The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-08-18
NV Cousin Dorothy.

blue hills. the house OF Roderick Lynton Is
built 1t Is . huge stone pile, with steep
gothic roof, picturesque gables and long, mar
low doors quantity adorned, aud now mellow
cd with the softeuing tints Of years. About
It rise great age-crowned oak, green In sum-
mer, russell in autumn; aud In the thick grass
Wild flowers bloom abundantly. for the coil 10
still virgin
As family, the Lyntons have always been
much respected, Tor around them yet fingers
q faint and indescribable charm Of old-time
distinction, which seems quite independent OF
ordinary circumstances In life.
Roderick Lynton has become 90 entirely
Injured to his solitary existence, that NO one
dreamed of any other condition IS at all possi-
BILE for him. He was already middle aged
man, when. CHANGING to meet blue-eyed mite
Of woman and quite losing his heart, he mar
ried her. his own, and also my, cousin Doro-
thy.
Ever since was 40 small that my head just
showed itself above the wheat fields that used
to creep almost up to the house on its south.
ern side, until now. woman grown, l look
back upon 1t all, and my cousin Dorothy's
beautiful home has possessed for me, change
less fascination. Aud with her, whose special
pet and protege l have been, much Of my
young and quiet life was passed. Indeed my
own home, which is in busy and opulent city
tying east of and rather remote from drowsy
Ernsciiff has never so powerfully attracted
nv interest ~ has this abode Of my cousins,
aud think my stepmother, in the midst Of
her growing and rollicking family, has kindly
rejoiced in the fortunate circumstances which
80 frequently made me the guest Of the Lyn-
tons.
Between their house and the village flows
broad stream, which breaks in . superb cas-
csde over high ledge Of messy rocks, and
falls with duh murmur into white, spongy
foam under the windows Of q tall mill leaning
above it. On its western bank out Of embow-
sring trees, peeps the pretty village, beyond
which the ground, gently rising swells at last
into softly rounded hills. The massive stone
bridge arching the stream lends touch Of
an .que effect, that apparently removes Erns-
elf from the company Of its busy compeers,
and makes 1t seem rather medi@vA than
American. Yet Ernsclif is a daughter of
lovely Iowa, whose veins thrill with the breezy
life of the West, and whose soul is filed with
The resistiess force of the Nineteenth Gen.
tIrv.
The house of Roderick Lynton, the extrav-
agant freak Of su elderly brother from whom
it descended to him, is large, roomy, and,
since my cousin Dorothy Is childless, lily suit
I'd TO the use Of two people growing old to-
gether. Its numerous and spacious apart
ments have extremely high ceilings; the long,
narrow windows are mullioned. and the stair
way leading to the third story. In which the
rooms, though quite unfinished, are kept
faultlessy clean. The most mysterious and
delightful of closets, dark, and oaken, are
hidden away in doors Of massive oak OF
oak, too, are the wide unexpected places all
over the house, and were once the dear Terra
Incognita" of my childhood.
Slow, even ungainly in his movements, large
and not handsome, Mr. Lynton has the softest
dark eyes and the tendcrest heart have ever
found in the possession Of a man, and in his
view the most beautiful, the most precious Of
earthly gifts, is his wife, so small and trim
that she appears almost doll-like.
How shall paint her, my cousin Dorothyi
Blue-eyed, rosy, with long. light brown hair
,oiled plainly round her head, warm, impetu-
GUS, devoted, at heart q perpetual fountain Of
love, but perversely bubbling over at lip with
Tiny vexations and harmless and evanescent
bursts of anger that served to amuse those who
loved her. OF Southern birth, she had the
inbred instincts and the inherited traditions
Of her race. Though she was most devotedly
attached to her husband, she was too woman
~ to tyrannize over him. Contrasts in all
other respects, they were likewise of differing
political and religious views For while
my cousin Dorothy was q stern and unyield-
ing Presbyterian, she was faithful advocate
Of Democratic doctrines But Roderick, her
husband, though of Puritan stock honored
and known in Colonial days, was an admirer
Of the rites and ceremonies of the Episcopal
faith, and q most ardent believer in what was
then beginning to be called abolitionism But
to the credit of both must add that each too
sincerely respected the other to permit these
differences in the faintest degree to obtrude
themselves extensively
was not quite sixteen when I spent In
Ernscliff that summer which stands out in my
memory as nothing else can ever do. The
great Rebellion was sweeping over the land,
and even Ernscliff, though remote from its
central strength. listened with leaping heart
to the story Of the war. I could hardly un-
1erstand the import of i. all, but, as became .
!oyal Iowan, l followed with intense interest
the fortunes of the boys in blue.
had reached the village early In the morn
ing, but, unable to resist the murmur of the
.umbling waterfall, had spent much of the
lay in certain we'll remembered rambles.
Here, my DEAR" said my cousin, IS she
vent lightly before me that night as I was
about to retire. Il think you must make lit
u. oba In,
"But would like my dear old snuggery
oest, Cousin" began.
marjorie" she answered, opening the door
Of room as she spoke, II am having some
repairs made in your old chamber. You need
aot mind being so far from US Catherine
sleeps just across the hail. You are not timid,
iear!o
''Of course not, Cousin Dorothy; what has
any enc t. fear at Erusclih"
She gave little sigh, and, holding up her
eandle, critically surveyed the room
Its sweet and fresh IS new-mown hay"
said ier her housewifery was Of the dainti-
est, always.
She laid her smooth cheek to NINE patting
my hand gently As she did 90.
81 think you might lock your door," she
laid, with a nervousness quite rare In her.
''You Islander dear old Ernsclif," said,
''nobodr ever used to lock doors here. Should
grow suspecting and cowardly now!"
'Of course not, my darling" answered. Mrs.
Lynton. 'What silly old woman am, to
be surer' She bent down and left me with .
loving kiss. But at the door she paused, and,
i,oking X, said: II must be nervous after
ALL shall sleep better II you humor an old
wom; us whim and lock your door-good-
night. q .r.''
This caution upon her part amused me for
moment Then, that she might sleep with
out anxiety, rapidly disrobed. and going to
the door, turned the key. Unfortunately, in
stead Of locking the door, simply loosened
the key, which q moment later fell in the folds
Of the wrapper wore, and though CROPPED
about for it, failed to find It.
"Nonsensel I'm not going to strike light
to find the slippery thing" muttered, ~
YEARLY crcpt into bed. l fancied that Mrs.
Linton was q little out Of sorts, and wondered
why she was 80, but tired with my journey
soon abandoned al speculations and fell